City's involvement with hotel project questioned

December 19, 2013

By

Amy Cherry

Photo by Amy Cherry
Damion Bevacqua, left, an attorney from Pontzer and Pontzer based in Ridgway spoke with City Council on behalf of his client, Sam Shaw, owner of Best Western Hotel in St. Marys, questioning the city's involvement in the new downtown hotel project.

A current St. Marys hotel owner expressed his concern about the city's involvement with the new downtown hotel project.
Sam Shaw, owner of Best Western Hotel in St. Marys was joined by Damion Bevacqua, his attorney from Pontzer and Pontzer based in Ridgway, who stated their main concern is about the city entering into the private market and what council believes is the economic benefit to subsidize competition for existing businesses noting the current three hotels in the city being Best Western, Comfort Inn and Gunners.